Unions announce third full day strike in pay dispute

Unions representing university staff have announced a third full-day strike, in an ongoing dispute over pay.

Members of Unite, Unison, UCU and EIS will set up picket lines for the day on February 6, on top of a rolling programme of two-hour strikes that began on January 23, followed by two hours stoppages on January 28 and February 10.

It will be the third full-day strike over a one per cent pay rise offered to university staff – which unions claim amounts to a 13 per cent pay cut in real terms since October 2008.

University employers have criticised the announcement, and said there is low support among staff for the action.